Rose plant

ABSTRACT

A low growing, well branched rose plant of the hybrid tea class, having large foliage, long buds, and an open flower of 45 to 50 Rose Opal petals with a lighter reverse petal color and pronounced yellow base, having moderate fragrance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseplant of the hybrid tea class which was originated by me by crossing twounnamed varieties of rose plants, one a yellow hybrid tea, the other ared hybrid tea.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose varietyof the hybrid tea class with blooms, borne freely, of a blend of softcolors, not a bicolor. The objective was substantially achieved alongwith other desirable traits as evidenced by the following uniquecombination of characteristics which are outstanding in the new varietyand which distinguish it from its parents as well as from all othervarieties of which I am aware:

1. A vigorous, upright, well branched plant of medium height, normallyabout four feet, sometimes reaching five feet when grown at Irvine,Calif.

2. Large leathery foliage, normally resistant to mildew, but sometimesshowing infection by the disease.

3. A long bud with slightly blunt or flat terminal end which opensslowly.

4. Petalage of 45 to 50 petals.

5. Color of Claret Rose in the bud to a light Rose Opal in the full openform, the lower side of the petals being considerably lighter at allstages.

6. Petal base color of Sulphur Yellow, sharply defined on upper side ofpetals, blended into Rose Opal on lower side.

7. A moderately strong fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of this new cultivar by budding as performed atWasco, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new cultivar in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor in terminology in accordance with Wilson's Horticultural ColorChart, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color isindicated.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Unnamed variety.

Pollen parent.--Unnamed variety.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrid.

Commercial.--Hybrid tea.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown at Irvine, Calif., in July of1978.

Blooming habit: Continuous

Bud:

Size.--1 to 11/4 inches when petals start to unfurl.

Form.--Long, blunt top.

Color.--When sepals first divide, near Claret Rose (021); when halfblown, upper side of petals ranging from Claret Rose (021) to ClaretRose (021/1); lower side of petals, from Claret Rose (021/2) to ClaretRose (021/3) to near white.

Sepals.--Color: Outer surface Scheele's Green (860/2) overlaid oftenwith Garnet Brown (00918/3); inner surface, Scheele's Green (860/3) witha light tomentum. Three appendaged sepals, lightly appendaged. Twounappendaged sepals, hairy edged.

Receptacle.--Color: Scheele's Green (860/2), sometimes overlaid withGarnet Brown (00918/3). Shape: funnel. Size: large, broad. Surface:smooth and glaucescent.

Peduncle.--Length: short. Surface: smooth, occasionally with a fewstipitate glands. Color: bronzy. Strength: stiff, erect, heavy.

Opening.--Outer petals curl back.

Bloom:

Size.--Large. Average open size 5 inches.

Borne.--Mostly singly.

Stems.--Medium and strong.

Form.--When first open, high centered. Permanence -- retains its form tothe end.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions: 45--50.

Color.--Center of flower: Upper side of petals -- near Rose Opal (022);reverse side of petals -- Rose Opal (022/3). Base of petals: upper side-- sharply defined area (approximately 3/8" long) of Sulphur Yellow(1/1); lower side -- larger area, not sharply defined of Sulphur Yellow(1/3). General tonality from a distance: bicolor effect when half openof Rose Opal (022) and Rose Opal (022/3) with much light Sulphur Yellow(1/3) evident from base of petals, lower side.

Variegation.--Occasionally a whitish midrib.

Discoloration.--Color tends to lighten after several days to Rose Opal(022/3) overall.

Fragrance.--Moderate.

Petals:

Texture.--Thick.

Shape.--Round.

Form.--Tips slightly recurved.

Arrangement.--Imbricated. Petaloids in center, few.

Persistence.--Hang on and dry.

Lastingness.--On the plant, long. As cut flower, long.

Reproductive parts:

Anthers.--Medium. Color, yellow. Arrangement, regular around styles.

Filaments.--Color: yellow.

Pollen.--Gold yellow.

Styles.--Color: reddish.

Stigmas.--Color: white.

PLANT

Form: Bush.

Growth: Very vigorous, upright, branching, compact.

Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves 5-7.

Size: Large.

Quantity: Normal.

Color: New foliage: Garnet Brown (00918). Old foliage: Spinach Green(0960).

Leaflets:

Shape.--Elliptic.

Texture.--Upper side: leathery, slightly corrugated.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serrations.--Single, small.

Petiole.--Rachis: Color, reddish. Underside, prickles.

Stipules.--Long, bearded.

Disease resistance.--Normally resistant to mildew under normal growingconditions at Irvine, Calif.

Wood:

New wood.--Color: bronzy brown. Bark: smooth.

Old wood.--Color: green to brown. Bark: smooth.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks from base, ordinary. On laterals from stalk,ordinary.

Form.--Long base, hooked downward.

Color when young.--Brown.

Position.--Irregular.

Small prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks, none. On laterals, none.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the hybrid teaclass, substantially as herein shown and described, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by the unique combination of its low growing,well branched plant, large foliage, long bud, open flower of 45 to 50Rose Opal petals with a lighter reverse and pronounced yellow base andmoderate fragrance.